Systematic distortion of memory‐based data of communication behavior

This study examines the systematic distortion of memory‐based data of competence related communication behaviors over time. Pre‐existing beliefs of conversational behavior were correlated with concurrent and retrospective reports of conversation behavior at four time conditions—twenty minutes, one day, two days, and one week. The behaviors examined were behaviors determined by Pavitt and Haight to be part of a prototypical communicator's repertoire. Subjects were fairly accurate in their recollections with distortion occurring at only one time condition. This suggests that recollections may be accurate under some conditions. Suggestions are made for further investigation of the conditions under which recollections will or will not be accurate.